Toronto Tourism Magazine 2009 - (Page 67) o ne of the oldest wineries in the region is Château des Charmes, built with a nod to both the classical French château and to the aesthetic of the grand Canadian Pacific hotels, such as Fairmont Château Frontenac in Quebec City, Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa and the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. It produces an intriguing spicy red wine from the gamay droit grape as well as mouth-watering rieslings and Icewines. Other notable wineries worth a visit are Strewn, Cave Spring Cellars, Hillebrand, Peller Estates and Vineland Estates, all of which offer their own restaurants. The food is sumptuously paired with local wines. Some of the chefs were lured away from top Toronto restaurants, choosing to live in Niagara for both its professional opportunities and its pastoral beauty. The incredible range of wines and operations in this region is evident in the number and variety of wineries, from boutique-type storefronts to internationally renowned companies like Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate, which produces 100,000 cases of wine a year. Even its building looks less like a winery than an airplane hangar, with its strong modern angles and its flat roof illuminated like a landing strip. As I sip a glass of Jackson-Triggs riesling looking out at the vineyards from the winery’s large windows, it’s easy to see why Niagara is now one of the world’s great wine regions. Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White and Drunk All Over, publishes a free wine newsletter at www.nataliemaclean.com. TORONTO 2009 | 67 http://www.nataliemaclean.com
Contributors
Welcome
Cityscapes
Toast of the Town
In the Night Garden
Gooooal!
Take a Moment
Faces of Toronto
Red Rocket
Past Perfection
Water Lust
The Artist’s City
Living the Green Dream
York Region and North Toronto
Mississauga Marvels
Vine Country
Discovery Walks
Neighbourhoods of Greater Toronto
Listings
Visitor Resources
2009 Event Calendar
Parting Shot
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